[Guest]

Any of you guys ever gone to the Iron Butt association page and looked at all the finishers?

I counted 3,yes THAREE finishers on Ducati Monsters.

I counted only 8 other Ducati's,all ST2's and ST4's.

Nothing but Honda's and Bimmers with a sprinkling of Guzzi's and the occaisional Kawi and Suzi's.

This is DEPLORABLE!!!

We have no excuse!

1,000 miles in 24 hours....that's it!

I got the wife all wound up about it,and she's game.
Picking up a Map program tomorrow to start plotting a course.

Anybody else ever had the urge?
Ever tried?

Took a long trip last summer Michigan to Raid City South Dakota/Sturgis.
We took our time(Saw all the three headed snakes) and still managed 600 miles a day on each leg.

Anybody up for it besides me?

Keep safe all!
S-28

 

[CRASH!]

I fear that an objective of putting on big miles within a time limit is incompatible with the kink of motorcycling I enjoy.

I read the page on the Ducati.com site of the woman on the Monster in Seattle who got up at 3AM and rode East on the slab until her tire blew up. Her MO is to ride East as long as she can stand it, then turn around and ride home.

I have no interest in riding on the interstate. I do it only to get to fun roads. You can't average even 50MPH on what I consider fun roads. So sure, I could knock off 1k in 24 if I really wanted to, but it'd suck and I'd flatspot my tires!

 

[boplicity]

I fear that an objective of putting on big miles within a time limit is incompatible with the kink of motorcycling I enjoy.

So Don's into kinky motorcycling with lots of protection and low octane fuel. Okie Dokie!

 

[MATTinMN]

I thought in the iron butt they put a bunch of 1k days together & ride like 10k. maybe I'm wrong. if it's true - then it would suck to be doing well and have to pull over and check valves & replace belts.

 

[Mark1305]

I've looked at the Iron Butt page recently, too. After thinking about reality based options, I'm coming to the conclusion that:

1) I would like to tour on the Monster - but not high mile days and only on back country highways and byways. After hauling it up to the twisties in July I figured out I can ride it for a long long time on entertaining roads. But long straight flat roads get old on it pretty quickly.

2) I would also really like to take some serious trips sometime that would involve higher mileages and more days. But not on the Monster. Would have to get a real touring bike.

BMW? Maybe. Goldwing? Too big for me to get enthusiastic (although the black ones seem smaller). ST1100? maybe a good choice. Harley? One of these days I plan to rent one for a day just to see what they are like.

Mark J

 

[Skier]

Ciao,

some facts from my summer trip Italy-Arctic Circle using www.viamichelin.com
Departure : Stockholm
Destination : L

 

[JEFFS900S]

I have been tempted to try that a few times, but even on the more touring oriented bikes I've owned, I never found hundreds of straight line miles to be any fun.

It's not that Ducs can't do it, I just choose to do rides that are, in my opinion, more fun. I have put in some seriously long days in the saddle, but about 600 miles max.

Good luck on your Iron Butt though!

Jeff

 

[DaffeDuc]

rather than doing it on a goldwing, why don't you get an ST4? it's a ducati and it's a touring bike

 

[Guest]

MattinMn,

The Rally is a bunch of consecutive 1,000 mile days.

However they also recognize and award several other categories.
The one I'm looking at is the "Butt Burner 1,000".

1,000 miles in 24 hours.

Sure it's gonna be a 20hr mindless drone on the slab,but some interesting roads can be tossed in to keep things from going too astray.

Besides,it's worthy cause.
Get the Monster in there amoung the other bikes.

I see the monster as an all around bike that is not limited to carving or short Jaunts.

Touring on it isn't too bad,just keep in mind the fuel range is around 120 miles before fill up,and make sure to walk around and stretch a bit.

Come on guys!
Where's the sense of adventure?

Just gotta do it once,get the certificate,and go back to shredding the corners.

Keep safe all!
S-28

 

[CRASH!]

As you note, the cruising range is a significant limitation. You're gonna have to make up for all those damned fuel stops by riding 10% faster than everyone else!

 

[Guest]

The 2003 Ironbutt only had one Ducati. It was a M800 ridden by Rachel Dwyer out of Seattle. She finished. Visit her site at www.tigerracing.com or. net. Can remember which.

 

[Guest]

Yeah,
The fuel range is a limitation.

However,thanks to a misspent youth bouncing around on MX bikes,the fuel range on Sophie and the tolerence level of my right knee are synchronized.100 miles and we both need to stretch.

10% faster?
Oh well....
The speed of traffic on the local slab is approx 85mph.

I make a habit of going slightly faster than the herd around me because it is safer.

More time between "Pods" of idiots than amoung them.

I figure 18 hours of riding time.

COME ON GUYS!

Who else?

We gotta get the Monster in the faces of the rest.

I'm doing it anyway,and the wife will be doing it on a SV650.

Can't let a 120lb girl on a girly bike do something you can't now can you?


Keep safe all!
S-28

 

[Cactus]

I'm planning on taking a 1300 mile trip to Logan, UT from Tulsa, OK in a few weeks on my '96 M900. If I have the energy I hope to tack on a few hundred extra and go for the Bun Burner which is 1500+mi in 36hr, where as the Saddlesore is 1000+ in 24hrs.

 

[Doc]

There was only 1 Duc in this years IBR, a MONSTER! 800. This is more than a 1000 in a day thing. It is 11 consecutive days of about 1000 miles each. Some of this year's top riders did around 13000. In addition to the miles, points are awarded for more challenging routes. Some of those routes pound street bikes into pieces. Ever see a wing after a few hundred miles of rutted gravel? ... Not a pretty sight. Mostly Beemers, but they also had the highest per-capita failure rate (way above the HD OR Ducati entries). Mostly stator and bearing failures. You have to qualify to enter by proving yourself in smaller endurance events. The participants typically train year round and have bikes that are specially prepped for endurance riding. For example, the Monster in this year's event had an auxillary 8 gallon fuel cell onstead of a back seat, custom seat, tall windshield, and some big-a$$ed driving lights. Tire changes would not be difficult, but I wonder how she got valve adjustments during the 10K.

Three bikes given no real chance of winning or even finishing. The lone Buell, the M800 and one veteran IBR madman on a Ninja 250 he used just to stir things up. All had respectable finishes. The Ninja used good strategy for a top 10 finish. The Buell also had a top 10 and, at the awards ceremony, was teased about the reliability of Buells. Replied with a question of the percentage of Buell entries that finished (all 1 of him or 100%) vs. the % of BMWs. The Duc finished second among female riders, behind the lovely Miss Vicky from the SENS list.

I also have been fascinated with this event. The challenge of the event and fantasy of a ride like this are appealing. BUT... the reality would be much different. It's really dangerous (lots of crashes with several competitors hospitalized), it would waste your bike, and mostly, it's not fun. It's endurance. It's riding on the highway to rack up miles and riding impossible conditions for extra point if you want to win. This year during the week of the IBR, I took a lovely 2000 mile ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Shanendoah Valley over 4 days of riding. Got to see the sights, stop for things of interest (like America's oldest Brewery...Yeungling's in PA) and had a lovely time. Did not destroy myself or my equipment. I like my style of riding better. I have huge respect for the athletes who compete in the IBR (or extreem motocross), but it's not for me.

Next year, I hope to be rooting for a team of Monster riding madmen (and madchicks). Glad to provide support for any SC legs. I'll pass on the ride myself though.

Doc
One step closer to old age. I bought a sheepskin seatcover after the first 900 miles :-[

 

[Guest]

Cactus!

Do it Man!
Go for the extra 200 miles and arrainge the witnesses at start and finish!

One more Monster in the list!

I'm hoping for a trip in the spring for the saddlesore 1,000.

Work load thanks to the anniversary of 9-11-01 is going to make this year impossible as it's already getting cold here,and by the time I get 2 days off in a row the snow will be flying.

One thing I learned on last years trip.
Gold Bond powder is a GODSEND!

Powder up and SHRED!


Doc,
The IBR is beyond my mortal capacitys regardless of Sophies abilitys.She can do it,I have faith.I'm not up to it however.

The Saddlesore 1,000 on the other hand............
Gotta add one more Duc to the list.


I like to soak up the sights and ride away from the slab as well.
I hate highway drones.

The challenge dictates efficiency however,so I will make an exception.

The number of Bimmers failing strikes me as odd.
Possibly Buell and Ducati are more reliable? :-X


I have no delusion about the IBR.
However if a couple of us here get a wild hair and rip a saddlesore 1000,it would put the Monster into the light it deserves,over and above some of the more touted steeds.

That is the only point to my efforts as instigator.

Take the time to smell the roses,see the three headed snakes,nap in the shade alongside a seldom travelled road,and smile at folks you never met before but feel as if you have.
S-28

 

[Guest]

I think I'll take a pass on that one. Much rather put in 100 miles on the local back roads through cow contry(alot of flies, though) than putting my tail to sleep on the interstate.
Have fun though.

 

[DucSea]

Actualy, Rachel's M800D was pretty much stock.. She carried a bag on a Ventura rack system on the back but NO extra gas tank ?! She also runs a National Cycle windscreen and a modified (lower) seat...also a heated vest and gloves for the cold times. She completed around 9000 miles in 11 days. She put 6000 miles on her monster before she started the event..she had NO maintenance issues on the trip. We also take care of her M750D that now has 61,000 on it and hasn't had a valve out of adjustment for over 40,000 miles !
We are scheduled to do her 12K ( a bit late) and I will report back if there were any valve clearance adjustments made...
Dave R
Ducati Seattle

 

[Guest]

Ducsea,

Dude,Where the hell have you been!?

All I gotta say is *(&&^$%**(&!!!!!! Yeah!

I'm just flat sick and tired of the Asian bike idjits slamming Ducs of all manner for being maint. intensive.
Like they would know.

Currently have both in the barn.

Guess which one is going to pot faster?


Next time you see Rachel,tell her to keep at it!

It's inspiring to say the least.

Keep her running like you have in the past!
S-28

 

[Skier]

Ciao,

I got to say this,

"see you in seattle "

someday for sure !!!!

Skier

 

[Doc]

Actualy, Rachel's M800D was pretty much stock..